Although only the U.S. Army uses the exact title of engineer officer, the Navy, Air Force and Marines also have engineers in their officer corps. Military engineering officers share many similarities in duties, with few significant differences. However, each branch establishes its own criteria for qualifications and scope of operations, although every branch requires officers to be U.S. citizens and hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.

Army Engineer Officer

Army engineer officers are attached to the Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers not only provides engineering services to support ground troops in combat areas, it also builds numerous civilian projects stateside, such as dams or bridges. Engineering units participate in a variety of activities, including demolitions, construction, power generation and distribution, combat engineering and underwater reconnaissance and salvage. Engineer officers plan projects and missions, supervise personnel and coordinate work between other units. Upon attaining the rank of captain, engineering officers may develop policies or specialized equipment for engineering activities, teach engineering at Army training school or act as a consultant to other military groups.

Navy Civil Engineer Officer

Officers serving as civil engineers in the Navy can handle a variety of projects. They may command a unit of the Seabees, the Navy’s construction battalions that provide both combat engineering projects and humanitarian aid. Stateside public works projects are typically limited to shore facilities, such as docks or buildings. Navy civil engineering officers assigned to public works projects supervise construction, manage budgets and oversee utilities. When the Navy contracts with civilian companies for a project, engineering officers are the liaisons between contractors and the Navy. They manage contracts, supervise construction and review payments.

Air Force Civil Engineer Officer

Although the Air Force groups all engineering officers under the title of civil engineer, they can specialize in mechanical, architectural, environmental or electrical engineering. The Air Force relies on its engineers for not only construction and maintenance of its airstrips and buildings at bases around the world, but also for emergency response and preparedness. Engineers may train personnel in emergency measures, advise base commanders on emergency response efforts or oversee emergency repairs. They oversee construction, repairs and maintenance on bases, including utility systems and structures. Air Force engineers are also responsible for the disposal of biological, nuclear, chemical and conventional weapons.

Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer

Despite the title, Marine combat engineers perform services off the battlefield as well as in support of ground troops. Under combat conditions, engineer officers may supervise the placement or removal of mines, construct defensive perimeters, build bridges or demolish enemy defenses. In peacetime, Marine engineer officers may oversee humanitarian projects, such as rebuilding a medical clinic destroyed by a natural disaster in a foreign country. After completing one tour of duty, engineer officers may work as recruiters or instructors.

Qualifications

Although all branches require officers to be college graduates, the Navy requires engineering officers to hold a degree in electrical, civil or mechanical engineering or a degree in architecture. Age limitations vary by branch. For the Army, officers must be between the ages of 18 and 29 for active duty, or between 18 and 32 for the Reserves. Air Force officers must between the ages of 18 and 34. For the Navy, officer candidates must be between 19 and 35. The Marine Corps requires officers to be between 20 and 27 at the time they are commissioned. All branches require candidates to pass a physical, drug test and background check.

Pay

Most engineer officers enter the service with a pay grade of O-1 and a basic pay of $2,876.40 per month at the time of publication. Monthly basic pay for this grade increases to $2,994 after two years of service and $3,619.20 after three years. In addition to basic pay, officers who live off-post are eligible for housing and subsistence allowances. Other special pays and allowances can apply, but these are determined on an individual basis and depend upon factors such as the needs of the military at the time, assignment and duty location.

About the Author

Jeffrey Joyner has had numerous articles published on the Internet covering a wide range of topics. He studied electrical engineering after a tour of duty in the military, then became a freelance computer programmer for several years before settling on a career as a writer.